Photography Blogs

Dramatic Sky: Advanced Lightroom 2 Preset and Video

It’s time again to release a new Lightroom 2 preset. This preset differs from the ones I’ve presented in the past in that it requires some previous knowledge of Lightroom and presets to get the most out of it. For this reason, I’ve produced a small 9 minute video to act as a tutorial for those wishing to explore this advanced preset. Shown on the left is a typical look that can be achieved with this preset. You can compare it with the “out of camera” photo on the right. (click on the photo to see a larger view).

As a side note, I thought I’d comment on the new Lightroom “Release Candidate” 2.3 from Adobe. I think with this release, version 2 of Lightroom has finally matured into a stable platform which professionals and amateurs can rely upon. I too, was plagued with some of the problems in Lightroom 2.2 – and this release candidate was a welcome relief. Thanks Adobe, for quickly getting a solid program out to your users! The accompanying instructional video was even produced utilizing the new Lightroom 2.3 RC (ran like a charm).

Either scroll down or click on the “Read More” button to get to the goods.

Watch the Video

Click on the LARGE photo below to start the video.

As you can see, there’s a lot of creative potential in this preset. I’ve shown it on a winter landscape, but you should try it out on all your landscape shots, that need that “little something different”. The techniques shown in this video apply to the majority of the presets that belong to the Focus Beauty Collection of presets also found on this site. They’re a great way of precisely focusing your viewer’s attention on the subject in your photographs.

Download this Video

If you’re pressed for time and would like to watch the video at your leisure, I’m providing the following download links. Pick the one that best matches your viewing environment and click on the link to download.

Watch Related Videos

Here’s a small list of other related videos we’ve produced in the past.

Installing Presets in Lightroom 2 – this video is for those that need a little help in installing Lightroom presets. The video also gives you some tips for preset folder management and backing up your presets.

Advanced Graduated Filter in Lightroom 2 – this video explores the Graduated filter tool in great detail. It provides tips and tricks on using this great tool to make your work flow faster and smarter.

Some Before and After Shots

Original Photo (RAW)

with Snowscape Snap and Dramatic Sky preset(this is a new Focus Beauty preset)

Original Photo (RAW)

with Snowscape Snap and Dramatic Sky preset(this is a new Focus Beauty preset)

Download the Dramatic Sky Preset Here

Download the Advanced Dramatic Sky Preset

For Flickr Users – Tagging Your Photos

Since I have become more involved with the “Presetting Lightroom” group on Flickr, I’ve become aware that many people are “tagging” their photos with the Lightroom presets they’ve used to develop them. In order for me to see what kinds of great shots you produce with this preset, I would ask that you “tag” your photos with “Focus-DramaticSky“. In my experience, I don’t get a lot of comments and I almost never learn what types of shots are developed using my presets. Since the preset is free – is it too much to ask?

Hi Markus…Thank you for reloading the Palace presets. They work great and you were quick in responding to the problem and that means a lot. I couldn’t wait to try them and absolutly love them as I do with all of your presets. Thanks again and thanks for all your hard work and effort that goes into creating and maintaining your presets!

Thank you for the Dramatic Sky preset and for all the Focus presets, and especially thanks for the tutorial explaining how to modify the preset! After I watched your detailed explanations I realized that your focus presets could be modified too, which makes them even more useful. I appreciate your work both here and on Flickr, and very much hope that you keep creating the occasional tutorial as well as the well-thought out and very versatile presets. (I expect I never said Thank You either for your explanation of how to create an almost-HDR effect. How many Thank-You comments can you stand in one e-mail?)

Please save your time in answering my previous email. The solution was(A)previous – inexperience (ID-10T Error code). I am not sure which: whether I am more chagrinned at not knowing the control was there or more angry at Adobe for burying a detail like “View Controls” in the upper menus.